Trauma Focused & EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a highly effective form of therapy designed to help you overcome the emotional distress caused by traumatic memories, anxiety, depression, and other difficult experiences.
What Does EMDR Do?
EMDR therapy is based on the idea that our brains have a natural ability to process and heal from traumatic or distressing events. However, sometimes these memories get “stuck” causing ongoing emotional pain. EMDR helps unblock this process.
Here’s how it works:
1. Assessment: In the initial sessions, we’ll discuss your history and identify specific memories or experiences causing you distress.
2. Processing: During EMDR sessions, you’ll be guided to focus on these distressing memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as moving your eyes back and forth or using other sensory cues like tapping. This helps your brain process the memories and reduce their emotional charge.
3. Reprocessing: Over time, the distressing memories will become less overwhelming. You’ll develop new insights and healthier beliefs about yourself and your past.
How EMDR can help you:
EMDR therapy can provide a range of benefits, including:
- Trauma Resolutions: It can help you heal from past traumas and reduce symptoms of PTSD.
- Anxiety and Stress Reduction: EMDR is effective in managing anxiety and stress.
- Relief from Depression: It can address underlying issues contributing to depression.
- Improved Self-Esteem: You’ll develop a more positive self-image and greater self-worth.
- Enhanced Relationships: EMDR can help you address past relationship traumas, improving current relationships.
- Emotional Freedom: By processing and releasing old pain, you can experience emotional freedom and greater overall well-being.
I am a licensed EMDR therapist with experience helping clients overcome trauma, anxiety, and depression. I am committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their feelings and work towards healing and growth. Together, we’ll explore and process your memories, emotions, and beliefs, working towards your healing and personal growth goals. If EMDR therapy feels right for you, we’ll begin by setting goals and establishing a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship. You are not alone on this journey, I am here to support and
guide you every step of the way.
What is TF-CBT Therapy?
TF-CBT, which stands for Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, aims at addressing the needs of children and youth with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other difficulties related to traumatic life events.
What does TF-CBT do?
The overarching goals of TF-CBT are to cultivate a sense of safety and security in the victim/survivor by building coping skills and understanding normal reactions to traumatic experiences, to facilitate the repair or development of healthy social skills, and to empower the caregiver to confidently support the child’s healing journey.
TF-CBT is particularly beneficial for young individuals grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from experiences such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, violence, neglect, emotional abuse, or grief.
How TF-CBT can help you:
TF-CBT can help people overcome trauma-related difficulties in a number of ways including addressing distorted beliefs, developing coping skills, improving communication, regulating emotions, improving social competence, helping parents cope, reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and helping caregivers respond supportively.
Here’s how it works:
Key components of this multifaceted approach include:
- Psychoeducation: Providing the victim/survivor with an understanding of normal reactions to traumatic experiences, alleviating feelings of guilt or blame.
- Coping Skills: Equipping them with a repertoire of coping skills, encompassing relaxation techniques (e.g., deep breathing), mindfulness practices, acceptance strategies, thought identification and redirection, and other adaptive mechanisms.
- Gradual Exposure: A careful, controlled, and incremental exposure to memories of traumatic events through the creation of a narrative, which aims to recondition their response to triggers and reduce emotional distress.
- Cognitive Processing: Fosters the development of skills to reframe unhelpful thoughts and feelings, promoting effective emotional regulation.
- Caregiver Involvement: Emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trusting adult relationships for the child while simultaneously training the caregiver to provide optimal support.
We are here to support you along your journey.
The Trauma Focused and EMDR Team
SPECIALTIES: Depression, Anxiety, Self Esteem, Play Therapy, Behaviour Intervention, Supporting parents with Autism/adhd/odd diagnoses
Desiree D’silva, m.ED
EMDR Therapist
Languages: English
I am an EMDR and Play based therapist who works with children, youth and adults. I am deeply committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental space where my clients can explore their emotions, gain insight into their experiences, and develop effective coping strategies. My therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration, as I believe that the therapeutic relationship is a crucial aspect of the healing process.
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DEMOGRAPHIC: Adults, Children, Teens (16+), Families, Couples, Groups
SPECIALTIES: Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Body Image, Self-Esteem, Boundaries, Communication-Building, Interpersonal Conflict, Boundaries, Burnout, Women’s Issues
Wendy Huang
EMDR Therapist
Languages: English
We as human beings are a product of our lived experience. When we encounter trauma, it can impact us in a significant way, manifesting in our bodies as physical pain, or in our psyche as PTSD, anxiety, depression, or emotional dysregulation. As an EMDR-trained clinical counsellor, I aim to work with clients process their trauma by exploration of their inner world. Together, we unravel the negative cognitions developed in the face of hardship, and integrate a renewed sense of self so one is no longer disempowered by their past.
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EMDR is a therapeutic approach designed to help people process and heal from distressing life experienced, particularly trauma. This modality uses the combination of bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or sound, and recall of memories to help reprocess the memories in a manner which reduces emotional charge, allowing for healthier reintegration. EMDR is effective for treating PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and other mental health concerns, often leading to quicker relief compared to other methods. It is structured, client-centred, and can bring lasting change.
DEMOGRAPHIC: Children, Youth, Adults, Couples, Group Therapy
SPECIALTIES: Trauma, CVAP (Crimes Victims Assistance Program), High Conflict, Neurodiversity, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Emotion Regulation, Career Counselling, Grief, Music-Integrated Therapy, Play Therapy, Self-Esteem, Separation and Divorce, Life Transitions
Amanda Morazain
TF CBT Therapist
Languages: English
Many of us feel stuck in our daily lives, not knowing exactly how to attain the progress that we want. Depression, anxiety, and trauma can hold us back from where we deserve to be and can negatively affect our well-being and relationships.
I am trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) which uses techniques to modify distorted or unhelpful thinking, negative reactions, and behaviours. This is used in helping children, youth, and families who have been affected by trauma. It is a modality that recognizes that early trauma can lead to feelings of guilt, anger, feelings of powerlessness, depression, and anxiety and can manifest itself in a variety of ways such as being emotionally numb, experiencing sleep problems, difficulty in concentration, recurring thoughts surrounding the traumatic experience, and physical and emotional responses to things that trigger a memory of the trauma.
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I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and licensed with the BCACC with an RCC designation. I am also registered with the CCPA and have a CCC designation. I am a member of the BC Chapter of the Association of Family Conciliation Courts.
Additionally, I am registered as a counsellor with the Crime Victim Assistance Program and have further training and certification to be able to help those who have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, fear, anxiety, or depression, related to traumatic life events.
I am part of the Crossroads Collective High Conflict team which specializes in working with families who are navigating heightened levels of conflict, and/or have been court-involved. I am trauma-informed and have specialized knowledge and extensive training in high-conflict family dynamics.
I have experience working with clients who are neurodivergent and recognize the unique differences that come with that. I have supported children, youth, and adults with ADHD, Autism, ODD, and OCD.
I have a play therapy certificate and love working with kids to offer mental health support in a fun, friendly, and compassionate space. Trained in the foundations of play therapy, I use this method to help children express and process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, while guiding them in building coping skills and emotional regulation.
As an option, I am able to meld my two passions: psychology and music to offer music-integrated therapy. This can be particularly useful in calming the autonomic nervous system, reducing anxiety, and building self-confidence and competency through a creative outlet that brings joy.
I am here to help find what works for you and would be honoured to be a part of your journey.
Some Specific Types of Therapy I Offer:
-Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
– Music-integrated Therapy
– Child and Youth Counselling
– Play Therapy
– Couples Therapy
– Virtual as well as In-Person
Some of the areas I can support you with include:
– Trauma
– Anxiety
– Depression
-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
– Building self-confidence, self-esteem, and sense of self
– Relationships
– Time management
– Stress management
– Goal setting
– Mindfulness based techniques
– Health and wellness
– Personal development
– Life Transitions
– Burnout
